Former patients of Beaumont Hospital have returned to thank the staff for their tireless efforts and for going the extra mile.

A reception held at the Dublin hospital honoured the teams and members of staff who were thanked with an Honour Your Heroes award.

One former patient was Keith Boyle, who fell from a height of 20ft while sightseeing in Bratislava, Slovakia on a work trip earlier this year.

The 33-year-old from Coolock, North Dublin, landed on his back and when he eventually came to he couldn’t move his legs or arms.

He lay there for two days without food or water and called for help while he was coming in an out of consciousness.

Thankfully, he was discovered by a passerby on day three and spent two weeks in hospital in Bratislava undergoing surgery.

He told the Irish Mirror: “I think I just misjudged a step and I fell off a ledge. I just happened to be found by a man walking his dog. I fell straight on my back and it was a complete break of my spine.

“The only logic I had was to sleep at night and try and shout out as much as possible during the day.

“My body was in shock so I never actually felt in pain until after the surgery.”

Lorcan Kelly from Drumcondra thanking Cathy Keating

Keith seems very positive about his condition, although doctors say it’s highly unlikely he will never walk again.

But he says his positivity comes from his desire to just move forward: “It’s the necessity of it really, like there’s no alternative. You have to get up and do it.”

After Keith’s accident he was flown home where he spent many weeks in Beaumont Hospital’s Richmond Ward and with the help of physiotherapist, Cathy Keating was able to regain some mobility.

She said it was a pleasure to work with Keith and said his attitude toward his treatment was fantastic.

Cathy added: “I felt like he had already decided in his head that he was going to work really hard. He threw himself into it from the start.” Keith nominated Cathy to receive an Honour Your Heroes Award for helping him in his recovery.

Among the other nominees is nurse Nicola Mahon who was nominated by cancer patient Deirdre Sanda from Malahide.

In 2014, she was diagnosed with myeloma – cancer of the white blood cells, which required a long treatment process including a stem cell transplant and the reintroduction of disease-free cells into her body.

Throughout her battle, Deirdre said Nicola was a huge support.

She added: “She’s incredible, she’s so busy and she dedicates her time to everyone and made me feel at ease throughout my treatment. She lights up the place.”

Nicola, who has been working in the Coleman K Byrne’s unit in Beaumont for six years, said it is a touch job at times, but it’s wonderful to work with patients like Deirdre. She added: “The treatment she’s on now is very intense and it’s amazing what she’s gone through, she’s such a fighter. It’s great to look after her.”

ENT consultant Peter Walshe was nominated by Benjamin De Queiroz Carneiro, 11, and his family from Finglas after he successfully underwent the hospital’s cochlear implant programme.

Consultant anaesthetist James O’Rourke was nominated by brain tumour patient John Kelly from Tipperary who spent almost two years in hospital.

Thanking Denise Andrews and the staff of St Raphael’s Ward was Tiernan O’Sullivan, 11, Mallow, Co Cork who was born with spina bifida hydrocephalus and he required the insertion of a shunt to drain excess fluid from his brain in January.

Lorcan Kelly, from Drumcondra, North Dublin, suffered a stroke on Stephen’s Day in 2016 and also required the removal of rectal tumour. He is thanking Maura Hoey and the other rehab assistants on Hamilton Ward.